The White House will send an envoy to Ireland and Britain next week to discuss the possibility of a visit by President Clinton to Northern Ireland before the May 22nd referendum, despite calls by some leaders for Mr Clinton to stay at home.
Mr Jim Steinberg, Mr Clinton's deputy assistant for national security, will confer with Irish, British and Northern Ireland leaders on the proposed visit, said the White House spokesman, Mr Michael McCurry.
"We will go if it is in the interest of peace in Northern Ireland," he said.